Believe It or Not #8: A Strange Trip Through Time

If you have ten minutes to kill and a high tolerance for 1930s-style showmanship, sure, give this a look. It is for people who enjoy Before the Circus-style oddities or just want to see how humans used to entertain themselves before the internet ruined everything. If you prefer a cohesive narrative, skip it.

Ripley is standing in front of a bunch of people in tuxedos at a cocktail party, which feels slightly surreal. He is just rattling off these facts like he is holding a grudge against reality. The bit about the French woman buying clothes for snowmen? My brain just kind of stopped. I wish there was more footage of that.

Then there is this dog, Fritz. Watching a German Shepherd walk on a high wire is one of those things you can't unsee. It is genuinely impressive, even if I felt a little bad for the dog. The pacing is frantic, kind of like Let's Go, Gallagher but with less action and more 'did you know?' energy.

The Missouri 119-year-olds meeting for the first time is surprisingly tender. You can tell they are just trying to get through the interview without falling asleep. It is a very specific kind of human history that feels like it’s being erased as we watch.

Odd bits I wrote down:

• That Bible is comically large. Like, how do you even turn the pages without a pulley system?
• The truffle-hunting pigs look bored. They are the only honest actors in the whole film.
• The editing feels like it was done with a pair of rusty scissors. It just cuts from one weird thing to the next with zero warning.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even a particularly well-made documentary by modern standards. But there is a charm in how it doesn't try to explain *why* these things are happening. It just tells you, "Hey, this exists," and moves on to the next absurdity.

Honestly, it felt a bit like watching Harmony Heaven in terms of its light, almost disposable vibe. It’s just a weird little artifact. If you like feeling confused for a few minutes, you’ll be fine. 🐕🎩